The man behind the music
Experience the intersection of tradition and innovation through choral performance, composition, and recording.
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Kolby's performance schedule
Please note - additional performances, recording sessions, and more are still in development for 2025.
2025
| Date | Event | Location | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25-26, 2025 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
| October 14, 2025 | Jesse Kaiser Ensemble Concert | Columbia, South Carolina | TBD |
2026
| Date | Event | Location | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 14-15, 2026 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
| April 12, 2026 | Sonus Chamber Choir Spring Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 2:00 PM | |
| June 12, 2026 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
| August 1, 2026 | Sonus Chamber Choir Summer Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 7:00 PM | |
| August 2, 2026 | Sonus Chamber Choir Summer Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 2:00 PM |
2027
| Date | Event | Location | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Winter Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 7:00 PM | |
| February 13-14, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
| April 18, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Spring Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 2:00 PM | |
| June 11-13, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
| July 30, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Summer Concert | Topeka, Kansas | 7:00 PM | |
| July 31 - August 1, 2027 | Sonus Chamber Choir Recording Session | Topeka, Kansas | Private Session | Not Open to Public |
Conductor
Kolby brings music to life through expressive conducting, shaping ensembles with clarity, depth, and dynamic storytelling.
Kolby is a passionate and visionary choral conductor, dedicated to shaping the sound of vocal ensembles with a balance of precision, artistry, and emotional depth. As the founder and conductor of the Sonus Chamber Choir, he leads performances and recordings that blend rich vocal textures with a deep respect for both historical and contemporary choral traditions. His approach to conducting is rooted in storytelling—bringing life to each piece with intentional phrasing, dynamic nuance, and an ear for expressive detail. Through his work with professional and collegiate ensembles, Kolby continues to push the boundaries of choral music, ensuring that each performance resonates long after the final note.
Recording Artist
From the stage to the studio, Kolby captures the essence of vocal music through performance, production, and sound engineering.
Kolby is a dedicated recording artist whose work captures the raw beauty and emotional depth of vocal and choral music. With a commitment to both performance and production, his recordings span classical, contemporary, and original works, bringing artistry from the stage into the studio. His discography includes collections such as All-American, Contemplation: Select Art Songs by Kolby Van Camp, and Portraits, Vol. I, each showcasing a unique facet of his musicianship. Beyond performing, he takes an active role in the technical process, involving himself in the mixing and mastering of these albums to ensure every recording reflects his artistic vision with clarity and depth. As the founder of Aphelion Records, he seeks to provide a platform for artists and ensembles to create professional, meaningful recordings that preserve and expand the choral tradition.
Composer
Kolby’s writing bridges tradition and innovation, crafting harmonies that resonate with emotional depth and meaning.
Kolby's compositions are rooted in storytelling, atmosphere, and text-driven expression. His works, steeped in a unique post-minimal style, are published exclusively through MusicSpoke. Each composition explores the emotional depth of the human voice, crafting harmonies that are both intricate and accessible. Whether writing for chamber choirs, solo voice, digital media, or experimental soundscapes, his music seeks to bridge the past and future—honoring tradition while embracing innovation. His work has been performed at major conferences, including the 2019 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention, performed by ensembles across the country, and has been heard across the world in the iHeart Radio podcasting sensation, Ian Punnett's Vaudeville for the Frightened.
The Person
Rooted in a lifelong passion for music, learning, and exploration, Kolby’s journey spans performance, recording, education, and creative pursuits beyond the stage.
Kolby Van Camp (b. 1999, ASCAP) is a multifaceted musician whose career spans performance, recording, composition, and conducting. He has performed and recorded with ensembles such as Tallgrass Chamber Choir, KC VITAS, Blue Earth Camerata, the Minnesota Symphony, and the Susanville Symphony, collaborating with GRAMMY® Award winning musicians and conductors such as Eric Whitacre, Bryan Pinkall, and others along the way. His work has taken him to some of the world’s most renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the Mormon Tabernacle, as well as international performances in Italy.A graduate of Kansas State University, Kolby holds undergraduate degrees in Music Composition, Music Education, and a master's degree in Mass Communications, bringing a unique blend of artistic and technical expertise to his work.Beyond music, Kolby has a deep passion for astronomy, fine whisk(e)y, sports, philosophy, and intellectual exploration. Whether behind the conductor’s stand, in the recording studio, studying the night sky, or cheering on his Kansas State Wildcats, he approaches every pursuit with curiosity and a commitment to excellence.Kolby and his wife Anna live in southwest Kansas with their four cats, Pippa, Willie, Freya, and Finch.
Contact Kolby
A love letter to music
by American composers
All-American
A celebration of American classical vocal music, blending timeless repertoire with Kolby Van Camp’s rich baritone artistry in a recording that honors the nation’s musical heritage.
Listen
Original compositions that ask big questions
Contemplation: Select Art Songs by Kolby Van Camp
An intimate collection of original art songs, composed and produced by Kolby Van Camp, reflecting deeply personal narratives through poetic text and expressive harmony.
Listen
A sonic journey of southwest Iceland through the eyes of a foreigner
Portraits, Vol. I
An exploration of electronic soundscapes, Portraits, Vol. I merges texture and rhythm to create a bold and atmospheric sonic experience, showcasing a different side of Kolby Van Camp’s artistry.
Listen
K-State alumnus and musician Kolby Van Camp redefines choral music with Sonus Chamber Choir
Wildcat 91.9 | KSDB, Manhattan
"While many choral conductors follow an academic trajectory toward faculty positions, [Van Camp] has prioritized artistry over credentials. 'You don’t have to be the most academically decorated person in the room to make exquisite music,' he said, encouraging young musicians to pursue their visions with confidence and creativity."- Dawson Wagner
Western Kansas musician to lead a recording of new choral music
Western Kansas News
"Sonus, which means “sound” in Latin, is a professional recording ensemble based in Topeka. Their mission? The commissioning, performance, and recording of new music – that is, music that has never been recorded or performed before – and the elevation of the choral artform in Kansas and the Midwest."- Western Kansas News Staff
'The Sacred Veil:' An intimate choral journey of hope and healing makes its Kansas City debut
91.9 Classical KC | KCUR, Kansas City
"The Sonus Chamber Choir, under the inspired direction of Kolby Van Camp, delivers sensitive and moving performances of the highest quality. Their ethereal Kansas City premiere of Eric Whitacre and Charles Anthony Silvestri’s The Sacred Veil brought the audience on a journey through deeply personal human suffering to connection and peace."- Christy L'Esperance
In Focus: Sonus Chamber Choir and Kolby Van Camp
News Radio KMAN | KMAN, Manhattan
Radio interview with major regional talk-radio station, News Radio KMAN, on their morning show, In Focus. Brandon Peoples hosting.
Topeka teen to sing at Carnegie Hall
The Topeka Capital-Journal
"[Van Camp] has advanced into the upper echelon of male vocal performers in his age group — not just nationally, but internationally, as well."- Phil Anderson
Symphony fundraiser hosts Kolby Van Camp
Lassen County Times
"With such impressive accomplishments to his credit, one might expect Van Camp to appear aloof, yet he is anything but. Van Camp’s ability to connect with an audience extends beyond music; he captivates his listeners via lively and entertaining storytelling."- Glenda Svendsen
K-State Choir professors, directors, students gain recognition at national conference
K-State Today
"Several K-State Choirs professors, directors and students received recognition at the biannual National American Choral Directors Association, or ACDA, Conference, hosted Feb. 27-March 2 in Kansas City, Missouri."- K-State Today
Symphony showcases talent, debuts organ
Lassen County Times
"The special guest Kolby Van Camp shared his humorous beginning encounters with symphony conductor Ben Wade. He also shared the serene and meditative experience of watching and listening to the Kansas cornfields in the wind."- Jake Hibbitts
Topekan's music career hitting high notes
The Topeka Capital-Journal
"Most musicians can only dream of playing Carnegie Hall, but Topekan Kolby Van Camp has had the honor of performing there twice..."- Carolyn Kaberline